As I sit in the quiet with the windows open, the sounds outside remind me of the changes in my sphere. My neighbor plays her recorder with abandon on this first day of the school year. Suddenly, my mind jumps back to several years ago in this same house. I listened to each of my […]
Parenting
Pondering What Our Kid’s Birthdays Really Represent
Nothing really prepared me for the way my kids’ birthday celebrations change when they become young adults. Those long eighteen years of child rearing are filled with “in the trenches” moments which flood the senses. Excitement, disappointment, joy, anger, and humor churn through a parent’s being in the course of any given day. Sometimes, it […]
Watching My Son Commit to Discerning His God Given Design
Sometimes our hopes for our kids align with their own desires. And it’s a pleasant surprise. When we, as parents, release our teens-suddenly now- young adults into the world, we are well aware of their fears, comforts, and quirks. Truthfully we all have them. But maturity also plays a role in recognizing them. Some of […]
Reflecting on the Importance of Deep Family Roots
“I miss Granny’s meatloaf.” my young adult son mentioned on the phone the other day. The comment seemed random as we weren’t actually talking about my husband’s beloved grandmother. Interestingly, it was the second comment in a two week span about missing one of her delicious food creations. Granny passed away almost seven years ago. […]
Why Releasing Our Children to New Places Reminds us of Our Purpose
Two years ago, we took our youngest child to college. I confess I started counting down the weeks to that moment even as the summer days appeared endless. This transitional season brought with it plenty of questions and grief for me. While I knew my son’s new place of residence was where God wanted him, […]
Helping Your Kids Define Success on Their Own Terms
As parents, we want “the best” for our children. The parenting journey consists of a path that involves an often zig zag trek forward as we stride the line between rescue and release. But what “the best” looks like may not be the same for every individual. Not even from the same family. All three […]
